Markerless View Independent Gait Analysis with Self-camera Calibration

We present a new method for viewpoint independent markerless gait analysis. The system uses a single camera, does not require camera calibration and works with a wide range of directions of walking. These properties make the proposed method particularly suitable for identification by gait, where the advantages of completely unobtrusiveness, remoteness and covertness of the biometric system preclude the availability of camera information and use of marker based technology. Tests on more than 200 video sequences with subjects walking freely along different walking directions have been performed. The obtained results show that markerless gait analysis can be achieved without any knowledge of internal or external camera parameters and that the obtained data that can be used for gait biometrics purposes. The performance of the proposed method is particularly encouraging for its appliance in surveillance scenarios

Equivalence theory for density estimation, Poisson processes and Gaussian white noise with drift

This paper establishes the global asymptotic equivalence between a Poisson process with variable intensity and white noise with drift under sharp smoothness conditions on the unknown function. This equivalence is also extended to density estimation models by Poissonization. The asymptotic equivalences are established by constructing explicit equivalence mappings. The impact of such asymptotic equivalence results is that an investigation in one of these nonparametric models automatically yields asymptotically analogous results in the other models.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/009053604000000012 in the Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Determining an efficient protocol for production of neural stem cells

Abstract only availableMouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of the developing blastocyst. When cultured in non-adherent dishes, ES cells form free-floating embryoid bodies (EBs). Cells within the EBs can then be induced to form neural stem and progenitor cells. These 'neuralized' mouse ES cells have been used for therapeutic transplantation experiments in mouse models of human neurodegenerative diseases, including neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses (NCLs). This study focused on developing a more homogenous population of neural stem cells from ES cells for use in transplantation experiments. A homogenous population of neural stem cells could provide a renewable source of neural stem cells and thus a more consistent fate outcome for transplanted cells. We tested selected protocols for neural induction of mouse ES cells and compared their efficiencies in creating neural stem cells in vitro. Three previously developed protocols were tested in this study. The first induction protocol was specifically used to generate spheres of neural precursor cells, or neurospheres. It used a retinoic acid induction protocol followed by seeding dissociated EBs into neurosphere media. The second protocol involved growing neural stem cell colonies in astrocyte-conditioned media. The third protocol consisted of growing ES cells in flasks in neurosphere media (including FGF) without EGF for four days and then four days in neurosphere media plus EGF. Four variations on the last protocol were also tested. Preliminary results suggest that to produce a larger yield of neurospheres, the first protocol would need to be altered. The second protocol was time consuming and produced a small population of neural stem cells. The third protocol produced promising results with a larger yield of neurospheres than the first two protocols. Future studies will focus on the third protocol and define the optimal conditions whereby it will produce more neural stem cells.NSF-REU Program in Biological Sciences & Biochemistr

The String Deviation Equation

The relative motion of many particles can be described by the geodesic deviation equation. This can be derived from the second covariant variation of the point particle's action. It is shown that the second covariant variation of the string action leads to a string deviation equation.Comment: 18 pages, some small changes, no tables or diagrams, LaTex2

Supplementary feeding of the reintroduced Red Kite (Milvus milvus) in UK gardens

Capsule The provision of meat for garden birds is unusual in the UK but a reintroduced raptor, the Red Kite Milvus milvus, is now regularly fed in some areas. A questionnaire of garden kite feeders revealed that people were most often motivated to feed by a desire to see kites close up and that most provisioning falls within available guidelines. We estimated the median amount of food thought to be taken by kites per kite-feeding garden per day as 21 g, sufficient to support 0.12–0.26 individuals

Efficacy of Plastic Mesh Tubes in Reducing Herbivory Damage by the Invasive Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in an Urban Restoration Site

The restoration of stream corridors is becoming an increasingly important component of urban landscape planning, and the high cost of these projects necessitates the need to understand and address potential ecological obstacles to project success. The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America that causes detrimental ecological impacts in riparian and wetland habitats throughout its introduced range, and techniques are needed to reduce nutria herbivory damage to urban stream restoration projects. We assessed the efficacy of standard Vexar® plastic mesh tubes in reducing nutria herbivory damage to newly established woody plants. The study was conducted in winter-spring 2009 at Delta Ponds, a 60-ha urban waterway in Eugene, Oregon. Woody plants protected by Vexar® tubes demonstrated 100% survival over the 3-month initial establishment period, while only 17% of unprotected plantings survived. Nutria demonstrated a preference for black cottonwood(Populus balsamifera ssp trichocarpa) over red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) and willow (Salix spp). Camera surveillance showed that nutria were more active in unprotected rather than protected treatments. Our results suggest that Vexar® plastic mesh tubing can be an effective short-term herbivory mitigation tool when habitat use by nutria is low. Additionally, planting functionally equivalent woody plant species that are less preferred by nutria, and other herbivores, may be another method for reducing herbivory and improving revegetation success. This study highlights the need to address potential wildlife damage conflicts in the planning process for stream restoration in urban landscapes

Comparing Live-Capture Methods for Nutria: Single- Versus Multiple-Capture Cage Traps

Herbivory and burrowing by nutria (Myocastor coypus) cause substantial ecological and economic damage. Trapping is a common, effective practice for reducing nutria damage; however, trapping approaches must continually be adapted to keep pace with evolving animal welfare and ethical issues and to more effectively target pest species of interest. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of 2 nonlethal trap types for nutria: single-capture (SCT) and multi-capture (MCT) cage traps. We established 3 MCTs and 3 SCTs at each of 7 sites on a 10,500-ha mixed-use island located 15 km northwest of Portland, Oregon, USA. We pre-baited using carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes for ≥3 consecutive days before trapping. We checked traps daily, and an infrared motion camera was established near each MCT to document activity. We captured 26 nutria over 724 trap nights, and all captures occurred at 4 sites. Nutria captured by MCTs were larger (6.38 ± 1.68 [SD] kg, n = 10) than nutria captured by SCTs (4.21 ± 2.48 [SD] kg, n = 16; F1,25 = 5.51,P = 0.02). Camera surveillance showed multiple nutria present in an MCT on ≥2 occasions, although individual

Comparing Live Capture Methods for Nutria (Myocastor coypus): Single Versus Multiple-Capture Cage Traps

Herbivory and burrowing by nutria (Myocastor coypus) cause substantial ecological and economic damage. Trapping is a common practice for reducing nutria damage; however, trapping approaches must continually be adapted to keep pace with evolving animal welfare and ethical issues and to more effectively target species of interest. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of 2 non-lethal trap types for nutria: single-capture (SCT) and multi-capture (MCT) cage traps. We established 3 MCT and 3 SCT at each of 7 sites on a 10,500 ha mixed-use island, located 15 km northwest of Portland, Oregon. Pre-baiting was accomplished using carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes for ≥ 3 consecutive days before trapping. Traps were checked daily, and an infrared motion camera was established near each MCT to document activity. A total of 26 nutria were captured over 724 trap nights, with all captures occurring at 4 sites. Nutria captured by MCT were larger (6.38 ± 1.68 [SD] kg, n = 10), than nutria captured by SCT (4.21 ± 2.48 [SD] kg, n = 16; F1,25 = 5.51, P = 0.02). Camera surveillance showed multiple nutria present in a MCT on ≥ 2 occasions, although individuals \u3c 3.7 kg were able to escape. MCT were more expensive, larger, heavier, and more difficult to transport and deploy compared to SCT. However, MCT were much less likely to capture non-targets, capturing only 1 individual while the SCT had 35 non-target captures of 7species. Alterations to MCT door design would likely increase multiple catch opportunities and decrease escapes

Industrial precipitation of zirconyl chloride: the effect of pH and solution concentration on calcination of zirconia

In situ and ex situ X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate thecalcination of four samples of zirconia manufactured using two different zirconia reactant solution concentrations (0.81M and 1.62M) with precipitation carried out at pH 3 and 12. The calcinations wereinvestigated over the temperature range from room temperature to 1000"C. It was found that varyingthe precipitation conditions resulted in differing calcination routes; it is believed that variations in particlesize and initial degree of hydration are responsible for these differences. It was also found that theinitial phase produced after calcination was tetragonal zirconia, which underwent a process of crystallitegrowth to a size of # 30nm before transformation from tetragonal to monoclinic

The Ursinus Weekly, March 18, 1940

Board elects Nicholas T. Barry new Ursinus Weekly editor • Weiland to edit 1941 Ruby ; Dubuque is business manager • Law and morals Goodrich\u27s subject • Candidates listed for April elections • C.A. Kulp talks on old-age security • Jr. ticket committee explains special price • Snyder sets April 2 for spring Lantern issue • Members of faculty quizzed in poll express sentiments on third term • 21-year voting age favored by students • Party is planned for conference week-end • I.R.C. quizzed on current events; will admit members • Committee heads are selected for women\u27s May Day pageant • Hal Moyer chosen honorary basketball captain for season • Ursinus players on all-star quintets • Infield and outfield candidates report • Dorm battlers vie Wednesday in gym • Frosh won five of twelve games • John DeBold wins conference trophy • Undefeated Temple beaten by co-eds • Conference committee secures two speakers • Vespers speaker points way to achieve true personality • Temple professor to address pre-medical society Tuesdayhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1838/thumbnail.jp